Cep telefonu sınıfta dikkat dağıtıyor.

The cell phone is distracting in the classroom.

Breakdown of Cep telefonu sınıfta dikkat dağıtıyor.

• sınıf: the classroom
• dikkat dağıtmak: to distract

Questions & Answers about Cep telefonu sınıfta dikkat dağıtıyor.

What does cep telefonu literally mean, and why is it used for “cell phone”?

Cep telefonu combines cep (‘pocket’) with telefonu (‘phone’, including a possessive suffix), literally translating to “pocket phone.” This is the standard Turkish term for what we call a “cell phone” or “mobile phone” in English.

What role does the suffix -ta in sınıfta play in the sentence?

The suffix -ta is the locative case marker in Turkish, indicating “in” or “at.” Thus, sınıfta means “in the classroom.” Turkish grammar does away with articles like “the,” embedding such information within the noun through context and suffixation.

How is the present continuous tense formed in dikkat dağıtıyor, and what does it signify here?

The verb dağıtıyor is formed by adding the present continuous suffix -iyor to the root dağıt-, along with the third person singular ending. While it literally means “is distributing,” in the idiomatic expression dikkat dağıtıyor it conveys that the action of the cell phone “is distracting” (i.e., causing distraction) in the classroom.

Why is the sentence order arranged as Cep telefonu sınıfta dikkat dağıtıyor instead of following English word order?

Turkish typically follows a Subject – (Time/Place) – Verb order. In this sentence, cep telefonu acts as the subject, sınıfta provides the locative context (“in the classroom”), and dikkat dağıtıyor is the predicate with the verb. This structure contrasts with the typical English subject-verb-object order and can be a common point of curiosity for learners.

Why does dikkat dağıtıyor translate to “is distracting” even though the literal words are “attention distributes”?

Although a word-for-word translation renders it as “distributes attention,” dikkat dağıtmak is an idiomatic expression in Turkish meaning “to distract” or “to be distracting.” Learners must understand that Turkish, like many languages, uses phrases where the literal meanings of individual words differ from the intended, idiomatic meaning.